Many people use outside help to file their taxes, and are faced with the choice of using a tax-preparation software or paying a CPA to do them. The Onion presents a side-by-side comparison of using software vs. hiring a professional.
Marketing Strategy:
Tax Preparation Software: TurboTax’s Super Bowl commercial featured DJ Khaled
Accountant: Guy in Statue of Liberty costume twirling sign
Difficulty:
Tax Preparation Software: A little confusing to select deductions
Accountant: Terrifyingly easy to hand over your whole life to them
Best For:
Tax Preparation Software: Young, single renters with straightforward taxes
Accountant: Accountants
Speed:
Tax Preparation Software: As long as it takes you to go fill out online forms
Accountant: As long as it takes accountant to fill out online forms
Likelihood Of Having To Make Small Talk About Your Children For A Few Minutes:
Tax Preparation Software: Low
Accountant: High
Thrives On Ignorance:
Tax Preparation Software: Yes
Accountant: Yes
Greatest Benefit:
Tax Preparation Software: Not a human being
Accountant: Not a computer program
Tax Refund:
Tax Preparation Software: Smaller than you hoped
Accountant: Smaller than you hoped